Container for biological fluids

ABSTRACT

A one-piece container for a biological fluid having a fluidreceiving receptacle and an identification device presenting selectively encodable sites to uniquely identify the source of the biological fluid and tests to be performed therewith. The method of forming the container includes either one-shot molding of the receptacle and identification device, or the identification device is inseparably molded upon an existing receptacle.

1 nited States Patent Roger V. Larson [72] Inventor Murray, Utah [21]Appl. No. 857,975 [22] Filed Sept. 15, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12,1971[73] Assignee Bio-Logics, Inc.

Salt Lake City, Utah [54] CONTAINER FOR BIOLOGICAL FLUTDS 3 Claims, 4Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 215/7, 40/310, 215/100 R [51] Int. Cl B65d 1/00 [50] Fieldof Search 215/7, 8,9, 100 R; 40/22, 21 B, 306, 310, 324; 206/D1G. 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 265,863 10/1882 Quiggle40/310 283,825 8/1883 Shepard 40/310 566,761 9/1896 Hosmer 40/3101,006,087 10/1911 Hertzberg... 215/7 1,170,081 2/1916 McCay 40/3103,288,318 11/1966 Corbin 215/7 3,331,521 7/1967 Paige 40/310 X 3,396,4828/1968 Pradenas 215/7 X Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-LynnG. Foster ABSTRACT: A one-piece container for a biological fluid havinga fluid-receiving receptacle and an identification device presentingselectively encodable sites to uniquely identify the source of thebiological fluid and tests to be performed therewith. The method offorming the container includes either one-shot molding of the receptacleand identification device, or the identification device is inseparablymolded upon an existing receptacle.

PAlENlEuucnzlsn 8,612,321

INVENTOR. RUGER V. LARSUN H A M131 ATORNEY CONTAINER FOR BIOLOGICALFLUIDS BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates toreceptacles for biological fluids and more particularly to receptacleshaving identification devices integral therewith.

2. The prior Art It is very common to place labels or otheridentification media upon the surface of biological containers, such asblood collection tubes. The identification media is extremely importantin insuring that the proper chemical analysis is performed on a bloodsample and reported with proper identification so that the analysis ofthe blood sample is accurately linked with the identity of the donor ofthe blood sample.

Historically, the identification devices attached to blood collectiontubes and the like have been easily removable so that the identificationof each blood sample may be deliberately or inadvertently removed. Therisk of confusing blood samples with the identity of the true donor isapparent. Since it is common practice to collect blood samples inevacuated tubes and the like, it is presently preferred in the industrythat glass tubes be used. Plastic and other resinous materials are tooporous to sustain vacuum.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present inventioncomprises a unitary container for biological fluids, the containerhaving a receptacle for the fluid and an identification deviceinseparably united with the receptacle.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novelunitary receptacle and identification device for biological fluids.

It is another primary object of the present invention to provide animproved container for biological material.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent form the following description an andappended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of onepresently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The Embodiment ofFIGS. 1-3

With reference to FIGS. 13, a container generally designated 10 isillustrated in the form of a transparent test tube including anelongated cylindrical vessel 12 having a rounded closed bottom 14. Thetube 12 may be formed of any suitable biologically inert material suchas glass or plastic and is open at the upper end 16 and is interiorlyhollow to receive biological fluid and the like.

If desired, a rubber stopper (not shown) may be inserted into the tubeat the open end 16 and the tube may be evacuated in a conventionalmanner. When the tube 12 is thus prepared, a needle, or the like, incommunication with a blood supply or other biological fluid may becaused to penetrate through the rubber stopper to allow the vacuum inthe tube 12 to draw the blood or other biological fluid into the tube,as is conventional. When tube 12 is evacuated, it is presently referredthat the tube be formed of glass.

Significantly, the tube I2 has an identification device 18 mountedthereupon in one-piece fashion. The identification device 18 isgenerally rectangular in configuration and has notches 20 and 22oppositely disposed in the top and bottom surfaces of the device 113.The notches 20 and 22 accommodate proper positioning of the device H3 ina code reader.

The identification device 28 is preferably frangible in nature and has aplurality of recesses 24 best shown in FIG. 3. The recesses 24 areencodable sites and .are normally filled with a disc or button 26. Whendesired, the button 26 may be fractured at the weakened peripheral edges28 and forced out of the site 24 so that an aperture exists in thedevice I3. The selected locations of apertures in the device 118determine the code carried by the device. Also, in the illustratedembodiment, a column of apertures 25 is shown.

Although the device 13 may be disposed at any desired location on tube12, in the illustrated embodiment, the device 18 is tangentially joinedto the tube 12 adjacent the open upper end 16. The tube 12 and device 13are united at 30 so that a unitary structure is formed. As can beappreciated by reference to the Figures, the device 18 cannot be removedfrom the tube ll2 either deliberately or inadvertently.

In the method of forming the container 10, a mold is provided into whichmolten glass, liquified plastic or other resinous material or the likeis introduced. When the glass or other material has cured, the mold isopened and the unitary container I0 is removed from the mold in aone-piece configuration. Significantly, it is presently pneferred thatglass be used where the tube 12 is to be evacuated prior to the deliveryof biological fluid into the tube.

The Embodiment of FIG. 4

Referring now to FIG. 4, the container generally designated 31 isillustrated. Container 311 has an identification device 32 which issimilar to the identification device l8 described in connection withFIG. ll, above, in that the identification device comprises notches 20and 22 and a plurality of arranged recesses 24 comprising encodablesites. A row of apertures 25 is also provided.

The encodable device 32 differs from the device I8 in that the device 32is joined by a connector 34 to an annular collar 36. The axis of theannular collar is parallel to the longest axis of the device 32.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device 32 is mounted upon a receptacle or testtube 38, which may be a; conventional blood-colleetion tube. Althoughthe blood-collection tube 38 may be formed of plastic or other material,it is presently preferred that the tube be formed of glass where it isdesired that the tube be evacuated as above described.

Tube 38 is provided with an annular recess 40 having side edges 42 whichare directed angularly inward. The collar 36 is molded within the recess40 so that the material forming the collar 36 essentially completelyfills the recess 40. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the collar 40 is,subsequent to curing, inseparably united with the tube 33.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 is particularly advantageous where it isdesired to unite a plastic identification device 32 with a glass tube33. In the method of forming the container embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, a preformed tube 38, having the recess 40 formed adjacent theupper edge 44 of the tube, is inserted into a mold having an interiorconfiguration complementing the device 32 and collar 36 so that therecess 40 is in communication with the interior of the mold. Thereafter,plastic or other resinous material is placed in the mold in theconfiguration of the identification device 32, tab 34 and collar 36.When the plastic or resinous material is cured, the tube 38 andidentification device 32 may be removed from the mold as a unitaryone-piece device.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore to be embraced therein:

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

permanently unite the receptacle and the identification device.

3. A container for biological fluid formed of biologically inertmaterial, the container comprising a liquid-receiving vessel and a rigididentification device molded into a unitary inseparable relation withthe vessel, said rigid identification device extending eccentricallyparallel to the axis of the vessel and having a generally flat surfacewith a plurality of encodable sites disposed over the surface.

1. A one-piece container for biological fluids comprising afluid-receiving tube, an inseparable identification device projectingradially from the tube and comprising a plurality of encodable sites foruniquely identifying the tube and a connector integral with said deviceand molded into integral relation with said tube.
 2. A container forbiological fluids comprising a glass fluid receptacle comprising anannular channel opening exterior of the receptacle and a plasticidentification device having a plurality of encodable sites thereon, theidentification device having a collar molded inseparably into theannular channel to permanently unite the receptacle and theidentification device.
 3. A container for biological fluid formed ofbiologically inert material, the container comprising a liquid-receivingvessel and a rigid identification device molded into a unitaryinseparable relation with the vessel, said rigid identification deviceextending eccentrically parallel to the axis of the vessel and having agenerally flat surface with a plurality of encodable sites disposed overthe surface.